Weather

Scientists say heatwaves and storms are becoming more intense due to human-driven climate change.

At least eight people have died across Europe as an early summer heatwave grips much of the continent, triggering health alerts and forest fires and forcing the closure of a nuclear reactor at a Swiss power plant.

Authorities in Spain’s Catalonia region said about 14,000 people were ordered to stay indoors due to two wildfires that broke out almost simultaneously in the province of Lleida.

In one of the blazes near the city of Cosco, “two people were found lifeless by firefighters,” the fire and emergency service said in a statement on Wednesday.

The exact cause of the fire was unclear, but the service said the recent heat, dry conditions and strong winds increased the intensity of the flames.

Tuesday’s fire in the Catalonia region burned several farms and affected an area stretching about 40km (25 miles) before being contained, officials said.

On Wednesday, Spanish officials reported two more people died due to the heatwave in Extremadura and Cordoba.

Spain is in the midst of an intense heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in many places, and several heat records were set for the month of June.

France also experienced its hottest June since 2003.

Its energy minister reported two deaths linked to the heat with 300 others taken to hospital on Wednesday.

Weather forecaster Meteo France said red alerts remained for several areas of central France, and Catherine Vautrin, the health and families minister, said authorities should remain vigilant.

“In the coming days, we’ll see the consequences, particularly on the most vulnerable, and I’m thinking particularly of the elderly,” she said.

Two men over the age of 60 also died from the heat on beaches in Sardinia in Italy, the ANSA news agency reported.

In Germany, temperatures were forecast to peak at 40C (104F) in some areas, making it the hottest day of the year. Fire brigades were also tackling several forest fires in the eastern states of Brandenburg and Saxony on Wednesday.

Storm warnings issued

Italy, France and Germany have also warned of the risk of powerful storms due to excessive warming in unstable atmospheres.

Violent storms in the French Alps late on Monday triggered mudslides, disrupting rail traffic between Paris and Milan.

The Swiss utility Axpo shut down one reactor at the Beznau Nuclear Power Plant and halved output at another on Tuesday because of the high temperature of river water.

Water is used for cooling and other purposes at nuclear power plants, and restrictions were expected to continue as temperatures are monitored.

Scientists said heatwaves have arrived earlier this year, spiking temperatures by up to 10C (50F) in some regions as warming seas encouraged the formation of a heat dome over much of Europe, trapping hot air masses.

Greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are a cause of climate change, they said, with deforestation and industrial practices being other contributing factors. Last year was the planet’s hottest on record.

“Extreme heat is testing our resilience and putting the health and lives of millions at risk,” Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, told the Reuters news agency.

“Our new climate reality means we can no longer be surprised when temperatures reach record highs each year,” she added.

Authorities say forecasters cannot rule out a repeat of extreme weather like the devastating floods of 2022.

Nearly a week of heavy monsoon rains and flash floods across Pakistan have killed at least 46 people and injured dozens, officials say.

The government announced the death toll on Monday and said the fatalities were caused by several days of abnormally strong downpours.

They included 22 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan, 13 in the eastern province of Punjab, seven in Sindh in the south and four in Balochistan in the southwest, the National Disaster Management Authority and provincial emergency officials said.

“We are expecting above-normal rains during the monsoon season, and alerts have been issued to the concerned authorities to take precautionary measures,” Irfan Virk, a deputy director of Pakistan’s Meteorological Department, told The Associated Press news agency.

Virk said forecasters cannot rule out a repeat of extreme weather like the devastating floods in 2022.

Severe rains then inundated a third of the country, killing 1,737 people and causing widespread destruction.

The deaths from the past week include 13 tourists from a family of 17 who were swept away on Friday. The other four family members were rescued from the flooded Swat River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Rescuers found 12 bodies from the family, and divers continued searching on Monday for the remaining victim, said Bilal Faizi, a provincial emergency service spokesman.

The incident drew widespread condemnation online over what many called a slow response by emergency services.

On Sunday, the National Disaster Management Authority had warned of potential hazards and advised people against crossing rivers and streams.

Health and wildfire warnings have been issued by holiday hotspots across the Continent and also in the UK, as a ferocious weather front moves up from Africa and threatens life

Brits braving the Continent in the coming weeks should brace themselves for absolutely roasting temperatures.

Temperatures were tipped to reach a ferocious 42°C in Spain and Portugal this weekend, and are likely to edge even higher today. Road surfaces are beginning to melt in Italy, while Greece has been plagued by wildfires sweeping across the holiday islands in recent days.

The heat dome hanging over Europe is no laughing matter, with one tourist already having lost their life to heatstroke in Majorca. The roasting-hot front has blown up from Africa and looks poised to push thermometers even higher.

It’s unlikely the heat will relent anytime soon, thanks to the heat dome currently hanging over Europe. The meteorological phenomenon occurs when a high-pressure ridge traps a thick layer of warm air in one region, acting like a lid on a pot.

While a little sun, sea and sand might sound tempting, such high temperatures can be very dangerous.

Have you been impacted by the extreme heat? Email [email protected]

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The region around Seville in southern Spain was forecast to reach 42°C through the weekend, while the French Mediterranean coast pushed 40°C on Saturday, with similar temperatures in southern Italy and Sardinia. Highs in London could hit 35°C on Monday, potentially making it the hottest June day on record in the country.

In Spain, today is expected to be the hottest day of a heat wave that began on Saturday and set a record for June in the country, with 46 degrees in El Granado in the south of the country. The arrival of a warm, dry mass of Saharan origin is exacerbating the rise in temperatures to “abnormally high and persistent levels, both day and night, which could pose a risk to people,” the State Meteorological Agency warned.

UK health authorities have issued an amber heat alert for Tuesday covering London, the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England. The UK Health Security Agency has warned that scorching temperatures could pose a risk to children, older people, and those with medical vulnerabilities.

It warns of “a rise in deaths, particularly among those ages 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups.”

The heat also increases the likelihood of intense storms. France and Germany have been hammered by ferocious rain, hailstorms and flooding, leaving three people dead. Among them was a child who was crushed to death by a falling tree.

Amber heat warnings have been issued for many parts of Spain, with similar warnings in place for four departments in the south of France. In Spain, weather expert Nacho Espinos has urged people to remain indoors and avoid strenuous exercise.

A double alert has been issued in the Canary Islands due to extreme temperatures, with warnings affecting four of the islands. Weather experts say thermometers could reach 37C. On Gran Canaria, warnings have been issued for the rising risk of forest fires and the health dangers of high heat.

In part due to the high heat there, Greece has borne the brunt of the wildfires in Europe so far this summer, with serious blazes breaking out in several areas.

A fierce blaze ripped through the area south of Athens on Thursday, leading to evacuation orders and forcing officials to shut off sections of the vital coastal route from the Greek capital to Sounion, home of the historic Temple of Poseidon and a key draw for visitors.

In France, firefighters were mobilised to tackle early summer fires as 84 of the country’s 101 administrative areas were put on a heatwave alert from today until midweek.

Extreme heat can be deadly. In 2023, 61,000 people died because of Europe’s record-breaking heatwave. William Spencer, climate and first aid product manager at the British Red Cross, said: “Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and getting worse because of climate change.

“Sadly, we have seen cases already this year of the tragic impact high temperatures can have on human life. High temperatures make it harder for the body to cool itself and we all need to take care to manage the health risks of heat. If you are travelling to a country experiencing extreme heat, there are several steps you can take to keep yourself and others safe.”

Temperatures have started rising rapidly, just as a new early warning system has come into force. Forecaster.health is the first pan-European, publicly available platform that predicts the actual mortality risks of temperatures for different demographics. Those planning a holiday who are concerned about the heat can use it to check how much of a risk to their health they are taking.

If you are heading on holiday in the coming weeks, make sure you know the forecasted weather so you can prepare suitably.

Local authorities have issued fresh warnings against the risk of wildfires and urged people to take shelter, as Southern Europe experiences the summer’s first severe heatwave and as experts link the rising frequency and intensity of soaring temperatures to climate change.

Acute heatwaves were recorded in Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal through the weekend and into Sunday, with locals and tourists alike battling the sweltering conditions.

Ambulances were also on standby near tourist hot spots.

Two-thirds of Portugal was on high alert on Sunday for extreme heat and wildfires, with temperatures in Lisbon expected to top 42C (107F).

In Lisbon, 39-year-old pharmacist Sofia Monnteiro told the AFP news agency that despite advising people “not to go out” during the hottest hours of the day, “we have already had some cases of heat strokes and burns”.

Several areas in the southern half of Portugal, including Lisbon, are under a red warning until Monday night due to “persistently extremely high maximum temperature values”, said the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

Much of Portugal was also on high alert Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires – as was the Italian island of Sicily, where firefighters tackled 15 blazes Saturday.

In Italy, a few regions — Lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Puglia and Umbria — were planning to ban some outdoor work activities during the hottest hours of the day in response to the record-high temperatures. Italian trade unions pushed the government to expand such measures at a national level.

On Sunday, the Italian Health Ministry placed 21 out of 27 monitored cities under its highest heat alert, including top holiday destinations like Rome, Milan and Naples.

Hospital emergency departments across Italy have reported an increase in heatstroke cases, according to Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine.

“We’ve seen around a 10-percent increase, mainly in cities that not only have very high temperatures but also a higher humidity rate,” he told the AFP.

It is mainly elderly people, cancer patients or homeless people, presenting with dehydration, heat stroke, fatigue.”

Greece was again on high wildfire alert with the heatwave there expected to continue throughout the weekend.

A large wildfire broke out south of Athens on Thursday, forcing evacuations and road closures near the ancient Temple of Poseidon.

Greek authorities deployed 130 firefighters, 12 planes and 12 helicopters to battle the blaze, while police evacuated 40 people, with five areas under evacuation orders.

In Spain, locals and tourists were desperately trying to keep cool, as temperatures reached as high as 42C (107F) in the southern city of Seville along with other locations in the south and central parts of the country.

Southern regions of Spain recorded temperatures above seasonal averages, prompting health alerts and safety recommendations from authorities. The country’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has said that June is set to break yet another record, becoming the hottest such month since records started.

The ‘urban heat island’ effect

Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common across Europe’s southern region due to global warming.

A Lancet Public Health study published last year highlighted the increasing risk of heat-related deaths due to climate change. The study predicted that heat-related deaths could more than quadruple by mid-century under current climate policies.

While more people die from cold than heat, the study stressed that rising temperatures will offset the benefits of milder winters, leading to a significant net increase in heat-related mortality.

Scientists say climate change is stoking hotter and more intense heatwaves, particularly in cities where the so-called “urban heat island” effect amplifies temperatures among tightly packed buildings.

“The heatwaves in the Mediterranean region have become more frequent and more intense in recent years, with peaks of 37 degrees [Celsius, 100F] or even more in cities, where the urban heat island effect raises the temperatures even further,” said Emanuela Piervitali, a researcher at the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA).

Experts have warned that intense heat can affect daily life, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children.

Local authorities have advised against any physical activity during the hottest hours of the day, and recommended drinking plenty of fluids.

Southern Europe struggles with soaring heat as temperatures hit 40C, sparking fears of wildfires and health risks.

Europeans are braced for the first heatwave of the Northern Hemisphere summer, as climate change pushes thermometers on the world’s fastest-warming continent further into the red.

With temperatures expected to rise to 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Italian capital, Rome, on Saturday, the Eternal City’s many tourists and Catholic pilgrims to the Vatican alike have been converging around the Italian capital’s 2,500 public fountains for refreshment.

In France, with residents of the southern port city of Marseille expected to have to cope with temperatures flirting with 40C (104F), authorities ordered public swimming pools to be made free of charge to help residents beat the Mediterranean heat.

Two-thirds of Portugal will be on high alert on Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires with 42C (108F) expected in the capital, Lisbon.

Meanwhile, visitors to – and protesters against – Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos’s Friday wedding in Venice were likewise sweltering under the summer sun.

“I try not to think about it, but I drink a lot of water and never stay still, because that’s when you get sunstroke,” Sriane Mina, an Italian student, told AFP news agency on Friday in Venice.

Meanwhile, Spain, which has in past years seen a series of deadly summer blazes ravaging the Iberian peninsula, is expecting peak temperatures in excess of 40C (104F) across most of the country from Sunday.

Scientists have long warned that humanity’s burning of fossil fuels is heating up the world with disastrous consequences for the environment, with Europe’s ever-hotter and increasingly common blistering summer heatwaves a result of the long-term warming.

With peaks of 39C (102F) expected in the cities of Naples and Palermo, Sicily has ordered a ban on outdoor work in the hottest hours of the day, as has the Liguria region in northern Italy.

The country’s trade unions are campaigning to extend the measure to other parts of the country.

In Greece, the first heatwave of the summer arrived on Thursday when a fast-moving wildfire engulfed holiday homes and forest land on a section of the Greek coastline just 40km (25 miles) south of the capital, Athens.

More than 100 firefighters, supported by two dozen firefighting aircraft, battled the wildfire that tore across the coastal area of Palaia Fokaia. The flames were whipped up by high winds as temperatures approached 40C (104F).

The heatwave comes hot on the heels of a series of tumbling records for extreme heat, including Europe’s hottest March ever, according to the European Union’s Copernicus climate monitor.

As a result of the planet’s warming, extreme weather events including hurricanes, droughts, floods and heatwaves like this weekend’s have become more frequent and intense, scientists warn.

Nine people from one extended family were killed at the Swat River, while others died in rain-related incidents elsewhere.

Flash floods have killed at least nine people in northern Pakistan after pre-monsoon rains swept away dozens of individuals.

District administrator Shehzad Mahboob said on Friday that the nine people who were killed were from one extended family of 16 who were visiting the area and having a picnic breakfast by the Swat River, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Mahboob explained that children from the family were in the water taking photos when the flood occurred, relatives rushed in to save them, but were trapped in the deluge, which was exacerbated by the monsoon rains.

Nine bodies had been recovered, with four members of the family still missing, while another four were rescued, Mahboob said.

Earlier on Friday, Shah Fahad, a spokesperson for the provincial emergency service, said nearly 100 rescuers in various groups rescued 58 people and were looking for the tourists who had been swept away.

Fahad called on the public to strictly adhere to earlier government warnings about a possible flash flood in the Swat River, a popular destination for tourists in the summer and winter.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “expressed his grief over the tourists’ deaths”, a statement from his office said.

Sharif added that he had called on authorities to strengthen safety measures near rivers and streams.

Meanwhile, according to rescue officials, at least 10 people were killed in rain-related incidents in eastern Punjab and southern Sindh provinces over the past 24 hours.

Since the beginning of the week, heavy rains have battered parts of Pakistan, including blocking highways and damaging homes.

According to weather forecasters, rains are expected to continue this week as the country’s annual monsoon season, which runs from July through September, begins.

However, weather forecasters are predicting less rain to fall in Pakistan during the monsoon season this year compared with 2022, when the intense rainfall flooded rivers, killing 1,739 people.

Authorities say that rescue workers continue to search for the missing and assist residents in town outside of Medellin.

At least 11 people have been killed and 15 remain missing after a landslide in the city of Bello in Colombia’s northwest, according to authorities.

Evacuation orders and rescue efforts continue a day after the landslide, with government officials warning that heavy rains pose an ongoing threat to the area around Medellin, Colombia’s second-largest city.

“We continue to support emergency and rescue work in Bello, where 11 people have sadly been reported killed, at least 15 are missing, and more than 1,500 people are in shelters,” Medellin Mayor Federico Gutierrez said in a social media post on Wednesday.

Floodwaters overwhelmed local waterways on Tuesday during the early morning hours while residents were asleep.

A wave of mud surged through Bello, a crowded community in the hills above Medellin, burying about a dozen homes, sweeping away cars and leaving behind piles of debris.

Rescue workers have used dogs, drones and other means to search for the missing. Shelters have been set up in local schools and community centres.

Heavy rains pose especially high risks for makeshift homes built into the hillsides, which can become unstable during periods of sustained rainfall. It is often the country’s poorer residents who live in these danger zones, many of them having fled conflict in Colombia’s rural areas for the relative safety of a city.

The Medellin town hall also issued evacuation orders for Villatina, also on the outskirts of Medellin, on Tuesday, stating that 23 buildings would be demolished due to the risk of possible collapse. The town hall says that the order was based on previous landslides during late May, and that the risk posed by the insecure structures has been aggravated by recent heavy rain.

Around 60 homes were also ordered evacuated in Medellin, which suffered damage during recent storms.

The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice due to a heatwave smashing the EU and has issued warnings for Brits visiting Spain, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus

The Foreign Office has issued travel advice for Brits heading to Spain, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus as a heatwave sweeps across the European Union.

Northern Europe is currently enduring an early summer heatwave, with forecasters warning of soaring temperatures in the weeks to come. Here in the UK, we’ve also been feeling the heat, with thermometers hitting 34C on Saturday.

France’s national weather agency, Meteo France, has echoed these warnings, cautioning that the high temperatures put “everyone at risk, even healthy people.”

Portugal recently recorded its highest temperature this year at 40.5 degrees, while parts of Spain have seen the mercury rise above 42 degrees.

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The situation is already much more serious in Southern Europe, with Chios in Greece in the grips of a fearsome wildfire at the moment. Locals have been evacuated after the tinder-dry island burst into flames over the weekend.

On its website, the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) has issued warnings about extreme heat in four countries, including in Greece, where nighttime temperatures are sticking stubbornly above 30C in large parts of the country.

The FCDO has also issued heat-related warnings for Turkey, Cyprus and Spain:

Greece: “Greece can experience extreme natural phenomena such as earthquakes, wildfires, extreme heat and flash floods.

“Take extra care when planning a hike or walk, especially during higher temperatures than you are used to. Trails often lack shade and the quality of route markings can vary.

“Do not light fires as it is both dangerous and illegal due to the high risk of wildfires.”

Turkey: “Extreme temperatures can affect many areas of Turkey over the summer months. Wildfires happen frequently in Turkey during summer.”

Cyprus: “The Department of Meteorology of Cyprus issues warnings for severe weather, especially during summer. Weather can sometimes cause travel disruption.”

Spain: “Temperatures in some parts of Spain can change very quickly. Take extra care when planning a hike or walk. Check local weather reports for warnings of extreme heat or cold temperatures.”

Bas Amelung, Wageningen University environmental systems analysis professor, forecasts that popular holiday destinations like Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey could become unbearably hot in summers to come.

“Countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Turkey that currently attract the traditional ‘sun and sand’ summer tourists are likely to become too hot for comfort in the summer,” he cautions.

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“People take decisions based on their perceptions,” Amelung further explains. “So if a large majority of holidaymakers thinks some European destinations will soon be ‘too hot’, they may well start adapting, either by going somewhere else in summer or by going to the same place in another season.”

In Chios, the government declared a state of emergency following the outbreak of the fires on Sunday, leading to several villages being evacuated. As of Tuesday, the wildfires are still raging, with hundreds of firefighters, aided by aircraft, tackling multiple blazes.

The fires have caused significant disruption, including power cuts, water shortages, and property damage. Indeed, as of 24 June 2025, wildfires continue to blaze on the Greek island of Chios. Hundreds of firefighters, backed by aircraft, have been battling numerous wildfires in various parts of the island for the third day running.

Glastonbury guests have been advised to pack their wellies as the annual music extravaganza kicks off tomorrow with the ‘wettest weather’ on the way after the heatwave

Wet weather is winging its way to Glastonbury on Wednesday according to the latest forecast before the annual music festival kicks off. Revellers can’t wait to camp out at Worthy Farm in Somerset to see the likes of Charlie XCX and The Prodigy take to the stage, however, they should pack their wellies – despite the country’s recent heatwave.

After the glorious sunshine we’ve been enjoying, Wednesday will see “the wettest weather” according to the BBC. Warning there may be heavy rain and thunderstorms, its forecast says: “Westerly winds have now pushed the heat and humidity away, temperatures have dropped and it feels fresher. Maximum temperatures for the next few days will be around 22C and overnight temperatures will be typically down to 12C. Unfortunately, on Wednesday is when we could see the wettest weather.”

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It continues: “Warm and muggy air from the Bay of Biscay could combine with a band of rain coming in from the Atlantic to bring heavy rain and thunderstorms into the evening. At the moment it is a risk.”

The good news is that after Wednesday night it should be dry and it is possible that any storms seen tomorrow will be further east and so the rain won’t amount to much.

Thursday and Friday may be windy, but there will be some sunshine at times.

However, the best weather looks like it’s reserved for the weekend as the forecast predicts: “South-westerly winds will become lighter and with more sunshine it will be warmer. Temperatures could be a very pleasant 25C.”

Rain or shine, Glastonbury fans will be there in their droves, partying the day – and night- away as they descend upon the West Country for the star-studded festival.

Ahead of the shenanigans, one keen festival lover sparked a flurry of invaluable advice on a Glastonbury Festival Reddit thread after asking, “Give me your most unique/useful items on your packing list. Something that you swear by…” resulting in a whole host of savvy suggestions for this summer’s event.

Giving their tips for the festival, which is predicted to attract a whopping 200,000 ticket holders, one reveller replied: “Change of clothes to be left in the car. There’s so much joy in a fresh t-shirt and socks to drive home in.”

Another fan shared: “Not sure if this is my main answer, but today I’ve decanted some liquid soap into a little travel bottle so I don’t ever have to use that grim sanitiser stuff at the toilets (which apparently doesn’t kill things like norovirus anyway)”.

And offering an ingenious organisational hack, a third advised adding a “bedside table” to their Glasto gear for camping convenience.

They replied: “Small collapsible boxes from Ikea for keeping stuff organised in the tent. They’re fabric and super lightweight.

“Sooo helpful to stop me losing things somewhere on the tent floor every 5 minutes”.

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CADBURY has unveiled a brand new range of limited-edition Dairy Milk chocolate bars that change colour when chilled – and they’re ideal for summer snacking.

The new Cadbury Dairy Milk Summer Edition bars and the Iced Latte flavour are hitting shelves across the UK from June 2025, wrapped in cold-activated packaging that transforms in the fridge.

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Based in Birmingham, the chocolate giant confirmed that the special packs use thermochromic technology to reveal vibrant designs – including deck chairs, umbrellas, kites, and inflatables – when cooled. It’s the first time Cadbury has launched a product like this.

“This summer, Cadbury Dairy Milk is reigniting the debate around storing chocolate in the fridge,” said Mara Popa, junior brand manager at Cadbury Dairy Milk.

“Our new Cadbury Dairy Milk Summer Editions range features cold-activated packs, reminding consumers that chocolate is a great snacking option in the warmer weather.

“Additionally, our limited-edition Cadbury Dairy Milk Iced Latte tablet is designed to excite consumers with a brand new flavour crafted for summer.

This NPD also features colour changing packaging, highlighting the chilled chocolate trend in a playful way and tapping into the debate.”

The cold-reactive wrappers aren’t just eye-catching – they’re a clever nod to how Brits really eat chocolate.

According to Cadbury’s research, more than half the nation stores their bars in the fridge, especially during the warmer months.

Despite this trend, the brand has advised fans to think twice before chilling their choc. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), a spokesperson warned that the fridge might not always be the best place.

“Chocolate should always be stored in a slightly cool, dry, dark place such as a cupboard or pantry at temperatures less than 21°C to ensure the quality isn’t compromised,” they explained.

Still, curiosity is high.

A whopping 67 per cent of Brits said they’re open to trying chilled chocolate, and Cadbury is leaning into that interest with a playful summer twist.

All five bars in the Edition range will be available in major retailers nationwide and have a recommended price of £2.

However, prices may vary depending on the store.

Chocoholics can expect a limited run, so fans might want to snap them up quickly once they appear in shops.

The packaging not only changes colour, but also ties in with the look and feel of a traditional British summer – perfect for picnics, beach days, or just a cool treat at home.

The launch of the iced latte-flavoured Dairy Milk also adds to Cadbury’s growing line-up of coffee-infused treats.

The bar combines smooth milk chocolate with a creamy coffee centre and crunchy biscuit bits, designed to satisfy both choc and coffee lovers.

Cadbury has already seen success with coffee-flavoured chocolate.

The Twirl Iced Latte has popped up in B&M stores in recent weeks, earning rave reviews from fans.

Meanwhile, a collab with coffee brand Kenco gave us the chocolate-flavoured mocha – another hit among sweet-toothed sippers.

And it’s not stopping there.

From 2 June, the brand will also roll out a limited-edition Twirl White Dipped bar, combining its famous flaky layers with a coating of smooth white chocolate.

A post on Facebook teased the launch, calling it “unreal, indulgent, smooth, swirly, creamy, melty, new, and mouthwatering.”

Earlier this month, fans also spotted a new Cadbury Dairy Milk Balls pack in shops, drawing comparisons to the nostalgic Cadbury Tasters – small, round chocolate treats first launched in 1996.

With so many launches lined up and a summer full of colourful, cold-friendly packaging, Cadbury is clearly out to make this season a choc-filled celebration.

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Seville is a popular tourist destination in Europe and is famous for its hot weather – but it could be set to become a desert in the next few decades

One of Europe’s “hottest cities” is a major tourist hotspot, but recent scorching temperatures have left some scientists worried.

Sunny Seville is celebrated for its stunning architecture, pulsating nightlife, and, not least, its glorious weather.

With an enviable average of 12 hours of sunshine a day and pleasant temperatures around 21C in March, the Spanish city offers the perfect city break escape while England endures often drearier climes.

Come summer, however, the story changes dramatically. The city faces blistering heatwaves with mercury levels that can soar to a staggering 45C, often proving too much for many tourists.

In recent times, soaring temperatures have raised alarm bells among climate scientists who fear Seville could be on the brink of becoming a desert, dubbing it the “Iberian oven”.

Nestled at the base of nearby mountains, Seville’s landlocked position means it receives hot winds from Africa, which sweep across its plains. Weather experts are issuing stark warnings, suggesting we are “walking into unknown territory… the city is turning into a desert.”

The peak of the scorching heat typically arrives towards the end of July and into August, although this can vary depending on wind patterns. Adventurous souls keen to explore this vibrant metropolis must heed the risks, particularly during the torrid summers when threats of heatstroke and dehydration are ever-present.

August 2023 witnessed the mercury hitting an astounding 40C, with temperatures consistently sizzling in the high 30s throughout the season.

Travel enthusiast Huw Owen recommends spring and autumn getaways for their gentler weather, but reminds summer tourists to find shade from midday until 7 pm and enjoy the cooler evenings.

Seville’s breath-taking Cathedral and Alcazar Royal Palace serve as idyllic sanctuaries from the intense Spanish sun, allowing guests to explore without overexposure.

The British Red Cross has come forward with essential guidance for Britons embarking on sunny escapades this year.

Dr Ellie Murtagh from the charity has offered invaluable advice: “If you are travelling to a country experiencing extreme heat, there are several steps you can take to keep yourself and others safe. This includes wearing sunscreen, staying out of the sun during the warmest hours of the day, drinking plenty of water and drinking less alcohol. You can also help keep wherever you’re staying cool by keeping blinds and windows closed.”

It’s crucial to acknowledge that extreme heat brings significant health risks, particularly for the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic conditions, so stay cautious and care for one another.

Fossil Free Football say: “Particular concern is for the fixtures in the no-shade stadium in Charlotte where a heat index of 38C (Real Madrid v Pachuca) and 41C (Benfica v Bayern) is forecast for the next two matches.

“This underlines the dangers facing players and fans at this tournament and in 2026. Fifa have done very little to allay safety concerns.”

The game between New Zealand part-timers Auckland City and Boca Juniors is also due to take place in 41C in Nashville at a ground with limited cover.

Matches in Philadelphia, New York, Cincinnati and Washington DC will also be played in the anticipated heatwave.

After Atletico’s 4-0 defeat by Paris St-Germain in 32C in Pasadena, Marcos Llorente said it was “terribly hot” and added “my toes were sore, my nails were hurting… it’s incredible”.

Fans spoke of having to leave that game because of the heat – and complained about long queues and restrictions of water when arriving at the stadium.

A Fifa statement read: “Fifa’s top priority is the health of everyone involved in football, and Fifa’s medical experts have been in regular contact with the clubs participating to address heat management and acclimatisation.”

The governing body added there will continue to be cooling breaks in the 30th and 75th minute where needed – and that fans are allowed to bring empty clear bottles of up to one litre into stadiums.

Chelsea, who are one of two English teams competing along with Manchester City, beat Los Angeles FC in their opener but then lost 3-1 to Flamengo on Friday.

“It’s not easy because of the temperature,” said boss Enzo Maresca. “We’re going to try to rotate players.”

The United States National Hurricane Center has warned of the risk of ‘life-threatening flooding and mudslides’.

Hurricane Erick has become an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm, hours before it is expected to pummel Mexico’s Pacific coastline, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) has said.

In its latest bulletin, the meteorological centre said Erick could grow even more powerful before making landfall in the eastern part of Guerrero state and the western part of Oaxaca state on Thursday morning.

The major storm, which is travelling to the northwest at a rate of 15km/h (nine mph), will unleash destructive winds, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge, forecasters have predicted.

As it neared Mexico, the NHC reported that the hurricane’s maximum sustained winds had increased to about 230km/h (145mph), putting it within the Category 4 wind speed range of 209-251km/h (130-156mph).

The NHC warned that Erick could unleash up to 16 inches (40cm) of rain on Oaxaca and Guerrero, bringing the risk of “life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain”.

The Mexican states of Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco could also be hit by up to 6 inches of rainfall, the Miami-based centre added.

Late on Wednesday, Erick’s projected path was revised, as it is headed closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca. A hurricane warning is in place for the entire coastal area between Acapulco and Puerto Angel.

Mexican authorities have scrambled to prepare residents and tourists ahead of Erick’s arrival. In a video message on Wednesday night, President Claudia Sheinbaum urged people to stay at home or move to shelters if they were in low-lying areas.

Some 2,000 temporary shelters have been set up in the states of Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca to house those who have to leave their homes.

Meanwhile, Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado said that schools in her state would stay closed, and that fishing and tourism operators had been told to make their boats storm ready.

Residents in the Guerrero resort of Acapulco were among those steeling themselves for Erick’s landfall.

The city of almost one million people was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, which killed at least 52 people and destroyed many homes and businesses.

Carlos Ozuna Romero, 51, lost his restaurant at the edge of an Acapulco beach in the 2023 hurricane. On Wednesday, he oversaw workers as they stored tables and chairs in preparation for the new storm.

“Authorities’ warnings fill us with fear and obviously make us remember everything we’ve already been through,” he said.

Elsewhere in the city, Veronica Gomez, a 40-year-old shipping company worker, suggested the city was much better prepared this time. “Now it’s not going to catch us by surprise,” she said.

Erick is likely to rapidly weaken as it reaches the mountains, and it is predicted to dissipate on Thursday night or early Friday, according to the NHC.

Erick is expected to rapidly intensify and reach major hurricane strength as it approaches Mexico’s coast.

Hurricane Erick is forecast to bring heavy rain, strong winds, storm surge and possible mudslides to southern coastal Mexico, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) has said, causing potential “life-threatening flooding and mudslides.”

Initially a tropical storm, Erick grew into a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday, packing maximum sustained winds of 120km/h (75 mph), the meteorological centre said. It was located 255km (158 miles) from the town of Puerto Angel in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca.

“Rapid strengthening is expected today, and Erick may reach major hurricane strength when it approaches the coast of southern Mexico Thursday,” the NHC said.

Forecasts predicted rainfall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, as well as less heavy rains for the states of Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged the population to be alert.

The storm’s projected path would take its centre near the renowned resort of Acapulco, which was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 hurricane that killed at least 52 people, and left a trail of destruction, after the storm severely damaged almost all of the resort’s hotels.

John, a Category 3 storm that hit in September last year, caused about 15 deaths.

The Mediterranean as a whole is warming up faster than the global average, while many cities and islands in Greece record numerous days each summer where the mercury tips over the 40C mark

The hottest capital in Europe is on high alert as 10 million holidaymakers look to descend on a city that has become stifling in recent years.

Visitors to Athens may want to gird their loins and pack a portable fan ahead of their holidays this summer. Athens has always been scorching in the summer, but never as much as it is now. Europe’s hottest mainland capital roasted in record highs last summer, with a Greece-wide heatwave from July 8 to 23 the longest in the country’s history.

While last year saw records topple, it wasn’t a total outlier. The Mediterranean as a whole is warming up faster than the global average, while many cities and islands in Greece record numerous days each summer where the mercury tips over the 40C mark.

The heat is a particular problem in Athens, where a lack of green space and shelter from the unrelenting midday sun can leave visitors from less sunny climes feeling roasted and fatigued.

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READ MORE: Brits warned of travel chaos as European airport hit by 10th walkout in 45 days

In fact, the Acropolis of Athens was shut several times last summer because of the relentless heat, which was deemed to be a danger to visitors. Each day close to 17,000 people visit the site, which is home to the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Propylaea entrance and white marble columns that radiate heat at tourists.

In the high season as many as 23,000 people a day trample over these hallowed rocks, eroding the foundations of what many consider to be the birthplace of democracy. It’s become so crowded that a new visitor cap was put in place last year. This has helped to control the crowds a little, bringing a touch of calm to a bustling spot.

To add to the heat issues, overtourism is rearing its head in Athens. Foders, an American outlet, has argued that the Greek city is one of the many great historical settlements which is being eroded and damaged thanks to out of control tourism.

Having bounced back in terms of visitor numbers post-financial melt-down and coronavirus lockdowns, “there’s fear that if the surge of visitors continues unchecked, the most Athenian boroughs will culturally erode and physically disappear,” Fodors writes. The publication placed Athens on its ‘No travel’ list.

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In a bid to dampen the impact of Greece’s raging hot summers, an early-warning systems for heatwaves and real-time monitoring of temperature data, along with fountains, air-conditioned cooling centers and shady pocket parks have been put in place, CNN reports.

Emergency services have been put at the ready ahead of this summer, including around the foothills of the Acropolis. In 2021, the city became Europe’s first to appoint a dedicated “chief heat officer”, who has been working on nature based solutions such as tree planting to lessen the perceived heat in Athens.

Iris Plaitakis, a tour guide who regularly visits the Acropolis, told CNN: “Tourists often underestimate the heat, especially those from colder climates. They don’t think to wear hats or bring enough water. You’re much more exposed to the sun and heat up there because of the higher elevation and lack of trees and other shade.”

Staying cool just got a little more expensive this summer. The price of coconut oil, a key ingredient in ice cream, has soared in 2025. Looking ahead, further price gains are likely as demand continues to outpace supply.

At the end of May, the wholesale price for Philippine coconut oil delivered in Rotterdam, an industry benchmark, reached $2,800 a tonne, roughly twice as much as the year before.

Adverse weather in Indonesia and the Philippines, which together account for three-quarters of global coconut oil supplies, has negatively affected production. Ice cream prices, in turn, have risen.

According to an analysis by RIFT, a British business consultancy, United Kingdom supermarket ice lollies and cones shot up by 7.6 percent in May.

Due to its high melting point, coconut oil keeps industrially made ice cream solid for longer at room temperature. Crucially for food companies, it does so without affecting ice cream’s flavour and texture.

The global ice cream industry, worth $81bn in 2024, is now paying close attention to the market dynamics affecting coconut prices.

What role has the weather played?

Coconuts are found in the tropics, where they benefit from lots of rain and sunshine. But the El Nino weather pattern, which produces warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures across the Pacific, led to drier weather across Southeast Asia, particularly from June last year to October.

During that period, coconut farms suffered from extreme heat and droughts. Because coconuts take a year to grow, last year’s weather pattern has meant that palm trees have yielded less fruit than normal in 2025, reducing supply.

The United States Department of Agriculture expects that unfavourable weather conditions will see global coconut oil production fall to 3.6 million tonnes in 2024-2025, down 5 to 10 percent from the previous season.

Output is also likely to stay low in the 2025-2026 season, according to analysts.

Are biofuels to blame too?

In October, the Philippine government mandated blending larger amounts of coco methyl ester, a fatty derivative of coconut oil, with diesel to produce biodiesel.

Until recently, the impact of the coconut-for-diesel policy was limited. A blending target of 1 percent was introduced in 2007 and then 2 percent from 2009. But that changed last year, when Manila hiked the target to 3 percent.

The government announced a further jump to 4 percent by late 2025 and 5 percent by the end of 2026. A 1-percentage-point increase requires an extra 900 million coconuts for the biofuels market, raising demand and prices.

Last year, Philippine Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said: “Implementing the higher biofuels blend is a win-win solution as we promote economic growth, uphold environmental stewardship and strive for cleaner energy utilisation.”

If the Philippine government carries out its plan, it will use 4.5 billion coconuts to generate the 500 million litres of coco methyl ester necessary to meet the biodiesel target by 2026. That would amount to nearly one-third of the country’s annual crop of 15 billion coconuts.

For context, the US diverts about 40 percent of its annual corn crop into its bioethanol, a fuel made primarily from fermented cornstarch designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Are chocolates eating into coconut too?

In an effort to maintain profit margins and contain costs, increasing numbers of chocolate makers have started reformulating products with cocoa substitutes. One of those is coconut oil.

In December, the US ICE cocoa futures contract surged to a record $12,931 per tonne, up a staggering 177 percent from the same period the year before. Since then, prices have come down but continue to remain elevated.

The high price of cocoa – currently trending about $10,000 per tonne – continues to be supported by crop shortages and resilient consumer demand for cocoa-based products, especially chocolate.

Coconut oil is an established alternative for cocoa butter, particularly in vegan or dairy-free chocolate recipes. And even at its elevated price, coconut oil is still cheaper than cocoa.

“I expect many confectionery and chocolate makers to substitute cocoa for coconut oil in the near term,” Felipe Pohlmann Gonzaga, a Switzerland-based commodity trader, told Al Jazeera.

Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have become another source of demand. In recent years, coconuts have been extolled by celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Kourtney Kardashian for their nutritional benefits.

Wellness Mama, a popular healthcare website, lists 101 uses for coconuts, including as a treatment for insomnia, heartburn, cuts, acne, haemorrhoids, mosquito bites and sunburn.

In the makeup and beauty market, coconut oil is seen as a natural and environmentally friendly alternative to palm oil. Here too, industrial consumption is rising.

While the health benefits of coconut oil continue to be questioned, this niche source of demand is rising. And although they wouldn’t have a big impact on their own, health-conscious buyers are entering an already tight market, lifting prices.

Can coconut production rise to meet the demand?

Despite coconut oil’s growing popularity, expanding production is a difficult task.

“Unlike with other crops, coconut farmers can’t simply add acres in response to higher prices,” Pohlmann Gonzaga says.

“It takes at least a year for the trees to reach maturity and production. Deforestation concerns and environmental laws also make expansion difficult,” he added.

Like palm fruit, coconuts grow on trees in tropical areas where forests would have to be removed to plant more trees.

“The European Union deforestation regulation, for instance, inhibits the destruction of biodiverse forests in order to import monoculture crops,” Pohlmann Gonzaga said.

He also pointed out that “we’re moving from El Nino to La Nina, which tends to bring more flooding in Southeast Asia. So planting, harvests and logistics will be impacted.”

With demand for coconuts likely to remain firm and supplies constrained, he added that he does not expect the prices to come down anytime soon.

“We can expect ice cream prices to be high this summer and stay high next year,” he said.

“For ice cream lovers out there, it may be time to start looking at fruit-based sorbet substitutes.”

WASHINGTON — When a fire erupts in California, it is a lab across the country, at the University of Maryland, that works together with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to determine where the smoke is going. Those unsung scientists help warn the people downwind of dangerous air quality levels.

About a half-hour drive away, NOAA’s Satellite Operations Facility provides the bulk of the work used to forecast atmospheric rivers that are crucial — and sometimes threatening — to communities across the state.

And it is the National Weather Service, working with buoys at sea and satellites in orbit, figuring out the risks of increased winds and dryness that could prompt devastating fires in highly populated areas such as Los Angeles.

It is not just meteorologists and technicians being forced out of their jobs en masse, jeopardizing the standards of those programs, said Craig McLean, a 40-year veteran of NOAA who served as the agency’s assistant administrator for research and acting chief scientist until his retirement in 2022.

The Trump administration proposes to go further, seeking to eliminate the entire research team that provides forecasters with tools to make their assessments. The Satellite Operations Facility has been hit with deep layoffs. Contracts for the buoys, and other equipment, are on hold while under review by the Commerce Department.

It is a cascade of delays and setbacks that could become evident to the public sooner rather than later, McLean said.

“The forecast risk is apparent upon us,” he told The Times. “I think it’s ridiculous to assume that it’s not — whether it’s for the fire season and the hydrology, whether it’s for the atmospheric rivers and the inundation and deluge, or whether it’s just for the high wind.”

Trump seeks cuts both to forecast and response

Workers put up a sign as wildfire victims seek disaster relief services at a FEMA center in Pasadena in January.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

The Trump administration’s cuts to NOAA, which have resulted in roughly 600 employee departures, or an about 15% of its workforce, appear to involve across the entire agency, based on self-reporting from employees and the National Weather Service Employees Organization. But the agency itself has provided few details to the public on the extent of its reductions.

“When the voluntary early retirement separation initiative was put up, in one day, NOAA lost 27,000 person years of experience, which is extraordinary in an agency of what was 12,000 personnel,” said Rick Spinrad, who served as administrator of the agency under President Biden.

“So much of what is done at NOAA is interpretive,” he added. “At the end of the day, when your weather forecast office or your local sea grant extension agent is informing you of what might happen, there’s a lot of interpretation of the environment, of local geography, local roads. That experience is gone.”

But if NOAA and the National Weather Service are ill-prepared for hazardous weather events — entering fire season in the West and hurricane season in the East — the Federal Emergency Management Agency may be worse off, having lost nearly a third of its employees since January. This week, Reuters reported that President Trump’s acting FEMA chief, David Richardson, told staff that he wasn’t aware the country had a hurricane season.

Trump has already raised concerns that he is rejecting disaster relief to states for political reasons. In the first three months of his presidency, Trump issued conditions on disaster aid to California after fires ravaged Los Angeles and rejected requests for disaster relief from Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, both Democrats.

Californians may find themselves more vulnerable to other natural disasters, as well. FEMA announced this month it would cancel $33 million in grants for Californians to retrofit their homes to gird against earthquakes, sparking “grave concern” among state officials. “This move must be reversed before tragedy strikes next,” Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California wrote to the agency.

More disruption for ports and fisheries

Each year, before fishing season begins, NOAA issues a series of scientific reports surveying fish populations and environmental conditions, a basic precaution to prevent permanent damage and overfishing along America’s coasts.

But this spring, staff cuts to NOAA forced the agency to take emergency action on the East Coast so that fishing could begin by May 1. And in Alaska, it took the state’s two Republican senators to plead with the White House to take action to allow fishing to resume.

“The federal government has to do two things: They need to do robust surveys for accurate stock assessments and timely regulations to open fisheries. That is it. When the federal government does not do that, you screw hardworking fishermen,” GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska said at a hearing in May. “To be honest, right now, it is not looking good, and I am getting really upset.”

Their challenges don’t stop there. Fishing ships will not able to sail on time without reliable forecasts from the National Weather Service, likely resulting in a reduction of the number of days out at sea and, in turn, leading to fewer profits and staff members.

Americans are already being told to expect higher seafood prices, due to Trump’s tariff policies driving up duties on seafood imports by 10% to 30%, according to a new United Nations report.

“A fisherman who goes out to collect their lobster pots or go fish for tuna needs a reliable weather report,” said Mark Spalding, president of the Ocean Foundation. “Everybody who works with NOAA, from fishermen to shipping, to other businesses that rely on weather and the predictability of currents and storms, are going to feel less secure if not operating blind.”

Similar problems are facing the country’s largest ports, which rely on government experts in ocean monitoring that have left their jobs.

“At the ports of Long Beach and L.A., the systems used to optimize the ships coming in and out of the ports — the coastal ocean observing systems — are being compromised,” Spinrad said. “The president’s budget threatens to eliminate a lot of that capability.”

Vulnerabilities across the Pacific

In Singapore over the weekend, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that a Chinese assault on Taiwan “could be imminent” and would threaten the entire Pacific region, including the United States. He touted U.S. partnerships across the region on maritime security — an acknowledgment that any conflict that might arise in the Pacific would be a fight at sea.

Cuts to NOAA could threaten U.S. readiness, McLean said.

“Because we have territories throughout the Pacific, NOAA is responsible for providing weather forecasts in those areas,” he said. “The defense community doesn’t operate completely dependent on NOAA in military conflicts — they have meteorologists in the Air Force and the Navy. But they are using NOAA models and are heavily guided by what the NOAA forecasts are offering, certainly for bases, whether it’s in Guam or Hawaii.”

The military, for example, uses data produced by thousands of buoys deployed and tracked by NOAA — called the Argo Float Network — that are considered the gold standard in ocean monitoring. The program faces cuts from the Trump administration because of its affiliation with climate change.

“There is a national defense component here,” McLean said. “The defense community is dependent upon what NOAA provides, both in models and in research.”

What else you should be reading

The must-read: California FEMA earthquake retrofit grants canceled, imperiling critical work, Schiff says
The deep dive: ‘Another broken promise’: California environmental groups reel from EPA grant cancellations
The L.A. Times Special: ‘It’s a huge loss’: Trump administration dismisses scientists preparing climate report

More to come,
Michael Wilner
—
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Relentless monsoon rains across the northeastern states leave a trail of deaths and destruction.

At least 30 people have died in India’s northeast after relentless monsoon rains caused floods and landslides over the weekend, Indian officials and media reports say.

Authorities on Sunday said at least eight people were killed in Assam state and nine more in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, many of them buried under earth and debris dislodged by the torrential downpour.

Three members of one family were killed in a mudslide in Assam’s Guwahati, officials said, as heavy rains led to flooding in many areas of the city, leading to long power outages and prompting authorities to shut schools and colleges on Saturday.

Authorities disconnected electricity in several areas to reduce the risk of electrocution, Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

In Mizoram state, five people lost their lives in a landslide, while six others died in Meghalaya state. Officials in Nagaland and Tripura states also confirmed two deaths.

Meghalaya’s Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma ordered emergency teams to stay vigilant, “especially in landslide-prone and low-lying areas”, he warned in a public statement.

The Indian Army launched a large-scale rescue effort in Manipur state, evacuating hundreds. “People have been shifted to safer places,” the army said. “Food, water and essential medicines were provided.”

The downpour has continued for three straight days, and India’s weather agency has forecast more heavy rains in the region in the coming days as it issued a red alert for several northeastern districts.

Rivers across the region, including the Brahmaputra, which originates in the Himalayas and flows through India into Bangladesh, have breached their banks, submerging vast areas and cutting off access to many communities.

Floods and landslides are common during India’s June-to-September monsoon season, which is vital for agriculture but often deadly. Dozens of people die each year as rainfall overwhelms fragile infrastructure across the world’s most populous country.

Last month, Mumbai was deluged by rain nearly two weeks before its usual beginning, the earliest monsoon arrival in the capital city of the western state of Maharashtra in over two decades, according to meteorological officials.

Scientists say climate change is altering weather patterns across South Asia, but the precise effects on the monsoon system remain unclear.

Flash floods triggered by heavy rains have devastated a central Nigerian state, killing at least 150 people and displacing thousands since Thursday, and rescue workers say the toll could rise.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing as roads have been damaged and homes destroyed while bodies are believed to have been swept down the Niger River.

Here is what to know about the floods and how prone Nigeria is to such events.

What areas in Nigeria are flooding?

Flash floods hit Mokwa, a market town located in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State. It followed intense rainfall that began about 3am (02:00 GMT) on Thursday, according to the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

Mokwa is a key meeting and transit point for traders from the south and food growers in the north. It is about 350km (217 miles) by road east of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. Mokwa has an estimated population of 400,000 while Niger is the country’s fourth largest state by size, covering more area than Belgium or Switzerland.

How many people have died?

More than 150 people have been confirmed killed while rescue teams continue to recover bodies and search for missing people.

The actual death toll is likely higher as many victims are believed to have been swept down the Niger River, Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris said, reporting from Mokwa.

“The usual thing is when an official tells you 151 are dead or missing, you are likely to multiply that by two, three or four,” he said.

At least 3,018 people have been displaced, 265 houses destroyed and two bridges washed away in the floods, according to Ibrahim Audu Husseini, a spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.

Of those injured, 121 were in hospital, and more than 100 people were missing, Gideon Adamu, head of the Red Cross in Niger State, told the AFP news agency on Saturday.

“We can’t give up the search as long as there are families crying out,” Adamu said.

Farida Auwalu, the lone survivor from a family of 16, lost seven children in the deluge. The bodies of four of Farida’s children have been found and buried.

“My hope is to see the remaining bodies and give them a decent burial and have closure,” she told Al Jazeera.

What caused the flooding in Nigeria?

Experts said the frequency and severity of floods in Nigeria have increased due to climate change, unregulated construction and poor drainage infrastructure.

Mokwa residents also believe the flooding was caused by “a bigger problem upstream, maybe a dam burst, but up to now, officials are not confirming that”, Idris said. Niger State has three major dams – Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro – while a fourth is under construction.

Despite flood risks being identified, there has been a lack of political will to implement the solutions for them, according to Ugonna Nkwunonwo, a flood risk analyst at the University of Nigeria. “The amount of rain you expect in a year could probably come in one or two months, and people are not prepared for that kind of rainfall,” he told Al Jazeera.

Many areas in the country lack proper drainage systems, and existing ones are often clogged with waste, causing water to accumulate on the streets during heavy rains. Additionally, rapid urban development without proper planning has led to the construction of buildings in flood-prone areas, reducing the land’s natural ability to absorb water. Deforestation for agriculture and development further reduces the land’s capacity to soak up rainfall, increasing the flow of water over the land.

Local leaders and residents are calling for state and federal authorities to intervene with long-term support and infrastructure to rebuild their communities and protect them from flooding.

“Warnings have been put out by authorities for people exposed or communities living along river banks to move to higher ground, especially when the rains start to peak, but every year, we continue to see more and more lives and property damaged because of rainfall,” Idris said.

How are authorities responding?

Emergency services – including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, the Nigerian Red Cross and local volunteers – are engaged in search and rescue operations.

President Bola Tinubu has also ordered an emergency response, including the provision of aid and temporary shelter.

“Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing, and all relevant federal agencies have been mobilised to support the state government’s efforts,” Tinubu wrote in a social media post on Saturday.

However, damaged roads and bridges have complicated rescue and recovery efforts.

Some flood survivors are struggling to get basic aid. “No one brought any money or food to help the victims. As you can see, many don’t have a place to sleep,” Hassan Umar told Al Jazeera in Mokwa.

A key bridge that connects the northern and southwestern parts of the country collapsed, leaving motorists stranded and disrupting movement of vehicles across the region.

What was the most recent natural disaster in Nigeria?

In September, severe flooding in the northwestern city of Maiduguri in Borno State submerged two-thirds of the city, killed at least 30 people and displaced nearly half a million.

More than 200 inmates also escaped from a flood-damaged prison. The disaster was triggered by weeks of intense rainfall and the collapse of the Alau dam in northeastern Nigeria.

Across the country in 2024, flooding killed more than 1,200 people and displaced 1.2 million in at least 31 of 36 states, according to NEMA.

Which states in Nigeria are prone to flooding?

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has warned of possible flash floods in 15 of Nigeria’s 36 states, including Niger, from Wednesday to Friday.

In the south, low-lying states like Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta in the Niger Delta region experience frequent flooding due to their coastal locations. In the north, Kogi, Benue and Borno states are also prone to floods because they are on major rivers.

The country’s rainy season typically begins in April to mid-May and lasts through October while August is the wettest month. Heavy rainfall during this period causes problems every year because it destroys infrastructure and is exacerbated by inadequate drainage.

Although flooding is common during Nigeria’s rainy season, now is not the peak of the rains, Idris said. “In some states, the rains have only been there for a month, and yet we’re seeing this.”

At least 3,018 people displaced and 265 houses destroyed in the floods in central Nigeria as more rains are feared.

More than 150 people have been killed and thousands displaced after floods devastated parts of central Nigeria, local authorities said, as rescue teams continue to recover bodies and search for the missing.

The flooding struck the rural town of Mokwa in Niger State following torrential rains that began late on Wednesday and continued into Thursday.

The death toll has risen to 151 after more bodies were recovered nearly 10km (6 miles) from Mokwa, said Ibrahim Audu Husseini, a spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) on Saturday.

At least 3,018 people have been displaced, while 265 houses were “completely destroyed” in the floods, he said, adding that many victims were believed to have been swept down the Niger River, warning that the toll could still rise.

President Bola Tinubu extended his condolences overnight and said search-and-rescue operations were ongoing with the support of Nigeria’s security forces.

“Relief materials and temporary shelter assistance are being deployed without delay,” he wrote in a post on social media.

“We lost everything, the families. We don’t have anywhere else to go, the property has gone,” Mohammed Tanko, a local, told Al Jazeera. “We lost at least 15 from this house.”

Another survivor said: “I escaped with only my nightdress. Right now, I can’t even identify where our home used to be.”

More rains feared

Meteorologists warn that more rain is expected in the coming days, raising fears of further flooding across the region.

Flooding is a regular threat during Nigeria’s six-month rainy season, but experts say the frequency and severity of these disasters are increasing due to climate change, unregulated construction, and poor drainage infrastructure.

“Flooding has become an annual event, between the months of April and October,” Ugonna Nkwunonwo, a flood risk analyst at the University of Nigeria, told Al Jazeera.

He warned that while flood risks have long been identified, “there has not been much political power to implement this change”.

“This flooding is a result of climate change, which is affecting the frequency and intensity of rainfall,” he said. “The amount of rain you expect in a year could probably come in one or two months, and people are not prepared for that kind of rainfall.”

Last year, more than 1,200 people died and up to two million were displaced by similar disasters across Nigeria.

“This tragic incident serves as a timely reminder of the dangers associated with building on waterways and the critical importance of keeping drainage channels and river paths clear,” the National Emergency Management Agency said in a statement.